Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Compensation ‘unfair’ to those traumatized by Malaita Eagles Force

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Jan. 4, 2016) – The Parliamentary Opposition has describe the $3 million [US$370,000] payment recently made to the former combatants of the Malaita Eagles Force (MEF) as "unfair", especially to the victims of the ethnic tension including those who had lost properties as well as those who were being traumatized.

A statement from the Group today says the Government is setting a very bad and unsustainable precedence which will later see more claims arising.

The Opposition said these claims are not budgeted for in the 2016 budget and questions where the Government will get money to settle other claims.

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Vava‘u, Ha‘apai hardest hit by powerful storm

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Jan. 2, 2016) – Initial reports have confirmed no casualties in Vava'u which has escaped major damage to infrastructure, apart from fallen trees due to Tropical Cyclone Ula over the last 24 hours. A state of emergency issued only for Vava’u and Ha’apai remains in force to be reviewed. While Tonga's climate experts say that a lack of moisture to drive the system prevented it from intensifying into a devastating Category 4 or 5 storm.

A state of emergency issued only for Vava’u and Ha’apai remains in force and is being reviewed while the cyclone remains in Tongan waters.

Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni in his capacity as Chairman of the National Emergency Management Committee said in a press conference this afternoon that no casualties...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

‘Too late’ to take cut as countries have budgeted for revenue: FFA

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Jan. 5, 2016) – Not only does the US government want a reduction of fishing days in the treaty for US vessels to access Pacific Island Party (PIP) waters in 2016, it is also seeking a large reduction in the amount the US fishing fleet pays annually as part of the agreement, according to a Dec. 31 news release by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries (FFA), the administrator of the Treaty. However the FAA says, "this is an untenable situation."

The release provided what FFA says, is an "Explanatory Note on the status of the Treaty between Pacific islands countries" and the US government. It recalled that last August the Parties to the Treaty reached an agreement regarding the conditions for access to PIP waters for 2016 and...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Opposition MP says move by government destroys all the progress

By Felix Chaudhary

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 6, 2016) – The National Federation Party says a Commission of Inquiry by the International Labour Organization into labour relations in Fiji was inevitable if reports of the removal of Employment and Industrial Relations Minister Semi Koroilavesau from heading negotiations with the trade union movement are true.

Party leader Professor Biman Prasad said the recent progress made between the Fiji Trades Union Congress and Government by Mr Koroilavesau after months of tension had been destroyed by the decision to remove the minister from the talks process.

"This smacks of political interference and this is illustrated by the appointment of Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma to lead negotiations with the unions in...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Group found ineligible to stand in snap elections

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 5, 2016) – Vanuatu's electoral office says it has received applications from 10 jailed former members of parliament to contest this month's snap election.

14 MPs were jailed after they were convicted of bribery in October, which triggered a deadlock in parliament that prompted the president to call the snap election.

The four other convicted former MPs -- including former prime minister Moana Carcasses, who spearheaded the payments -- have put forward relatives or former secretaries to stand on their behalf.

But an advisor with the electoral office, Martin Tete, says any candidate who is serving a prison term is ineligable to contest the election, and nine of the applications have already been rejected....

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

SMSP Head alleges politicians know little about industry

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 6, 2016) – A New Caledonian party has invited the head of the SMSP nickel company Andre Dang to discuss in Congress the company's financial situation.

The anti-independence Republicans issued the invitation in a statement after Mr Dang said he regretted that some politicians had so little knowledge about SMSP and therefore kept telling lies.

SMSP is owned by the mainly Kanak northern province whose leadership is pro-independence.

Last week, the Republicans refused to approve the 2016 budget which granted SMSP tax concessions worth 26 million US dollars.

They warned that they might test the budget provision in court because it was legally flawed.

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Category 3 Ula does less damage than expected

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Jan. 5, 2016) – The Tonga government last night cancelled a State of Emergency that was declared for Vava’u and Ha’apai on 31 January as Tropical Cyclone Ula entered Tongan waters.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Emergency Management Committee (NEMO) Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni said this morning, that the State of Emergency was terminated by the Prime Minister at 10:00pm on 4 January, after he had visited Vava'u with a team to assess the situation. The team recommended the termination of the SoE.

Tropical Cyclone Ula, Category 3, was expected to hit Vava’u on Saturday night, 2 January, but fortunately it diverted a little and it did not inflict as much damage as it was expected.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.